Dredge-bucket joint.



wrsmm my 28,;1907.

A. T. FRASER.

BREDGE BUCKET JOINT.

APPLICATION FILED mu 18,1906.

2 SHEETE-SHEET 1.

' ahw mwtoz and 8 are end views of di bushings;

: use'in such dredging machines and it results in great economy as all of the wearing parts the link. The link shown in-Fig. 1 has a pair of lugs 3, at one end, and three lugs 4 at the other end. It will be understood that all of AiEX NnEE T.

FRASER, or BUTTE, MONTANA.

DREDGE-BUCKET JOINT.

Specification of Letters Batent Patented May 28, 1907.

Application filed May is, 1906. Serial No. 31%.545.

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, ALEXANDER THOMAS FRASER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Butte, county of Silverbow, State of Montana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Dredge -Bucket Joints, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements'in joints for dredge buckets and otherfi j like structures in which a series of buckets on links are connected by hinge joints for dig ging, elevating or conveying purposes; In dredging machines using a continuous chain of buckets, the strain on the joints between the buckets is very great and it is impossible to keep sandand other gritty substances out of the joints, hence joints of ordinary constructi on wear very rapidly.

My invention is particularly adapted for of the joints are interchangeable and renewable and the buckets pro er are not subjected to wear-at the points wli ere they are hinged together. r

The inventioniwill be described in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which, j

Figure 1 is a lan view of one link of a dredge bucket chain, the bucket being removed and parts of two adjacent links being shown in dotted lines; Fig. 2 is a section on the line 22 of Fig. 1, the bucket being included; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the devices for locking the coupling pins; Fig. 4 is a sectional plan view of a difierent form of dredge chain to which my invention may be a plied; Fig. 5 is a side view of the bushing sl iown in Fig. 2, showing the wedge for securing the bushing in lace; Figs. 6, 7 erent forms of Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing, 1 indicates a link of a bucket chain and 2 the bucket proper which is suitably secured to the links of the chain are of similar construction and that the lugs 3 of each link have a working fit in recesses between the lugs 4 of the adjacent link. Through the lugs 3, 4, is passed a pivot pin 5. If the pinwere ermitted to turn relatively to the lugs, the atter would, be ra idly worn away by the grit which necessari y gets into the joints of a relativemovement between the pivot pin and ing means: The pin is clamped in one set of lugs, as for instance the lugs 4, by means of a block 6 which is concave on one side to fit the surface of the pivot pin, and preferably convex on the other. In the rear of this block is a groove adapted to receive a wedge 7, the groove and wedge being preferably arranged transversely of the pivot pin as shown in Figs. 1 to 3. one or more of the blocks 6 and wedges 7 may be used at each joint. Lpreferably use one at each end of the pin, as

shown in Fig. 1. A hole 8 is formed at the rear of each of the outside lugs to receive the wedge, and a recess 9 is formed in each of the outside lugs to'receive the block 6. When the lugs of the chain or bucket by the follow-.

dredge. I therefore prevent any wear or the parts are assembled, as shown in Fig. 2, V

and the wedges 7 are; driven firmly into place, the pivot pin will be clamped securely in the lugs and prevented from any movement relative to the lugs. There will therefore be no fvear of the lugs 4 or of the pivot pins in said ugs. It will be evident that the pin locking devices 6, 7, may be applied to the middle lug 4 instead of the outside lu s, or if desired, to all of the lugs 4- of each link The elongated cross-section of the wedge gives it strength in the direction in which the strain comes upon itand also avoids undue weakening of the link, the seat or opening 8 for each wedge being correspondingly narrow. It be noted that the blocks 6 and the :wedges 7 interlock, the wedges preventing any longitudinal movement of the blocks upon the pivot pins.

I' provide bushings for the lugs 3 having openings to receive the pivot pin and I provide means for locking these bushings securely in'the lugs so that there will be no relative movement or wear between the outer 100 surfaces of the bushings and'the lugs. As shown in Figs. 2 and 5, my preierred form of bushing 10 has a circular or cylindrical opening to receive the pin and it is elliptical in section, thus providing two crescent-shaped 1o 5 parts 11, 12, which form its wearing surfaces. Between the parts 11, 12, at one side of the bushin is a wedge piece 13, forming a section of the 1 ushing. The bushing is secured in the eye of the lug3 by driving the wedge into 1 1o I place, thus expanding the bushing and causing its outer wall to cling frictionally to the inner wall'of the eye of the lug. The longer axis of the bushing, which is somewhat ell1ptical in section, is inclined so that the wear of the pin will be on the thickest portions of the crescents, as shown in Fig. 2. 'The wear of. course will be upon one side of the bushing and the bushing is made s mmetricalso that it maybereversed, substituting the portion 11. for'the portion 12,-for instance, when the latter is-worn out. This reversal is accompli shed'by simply driving outthe edge, re-

- Imoving and reversing thebusliing, and then dredgeor other chain may bequickly restored to working condition when the joints are I for securing the-bushing in place is provided 3,5

" tofors described.

at each joint. 31

'worn out.-

Fig. 4 illustrated my invention applied to a dredgechain' in which the links have two 1 s at one'end and one at the other. In this form of chain I preferably use two'lock ing devices for'the pin and a single bushing In Figs. 6, 7 and 8 I have shown end views of three; forms of bushings which are among the'various.modifications of which my inven- .tion is susceptible. InFig. 6 the wedge 14 with a rib 15 which gives additional security against any relative movement of the'bush ing and the lug when the wedge is driven tightly into place. In Fig. 7 I haveshown a bushing having a locking wedge 16 on its wearing side. That is, the wear of the pin is partly on'the bushing proper and partly on the wedge This form has some'advantages as the pressiire of the pin onthe wedge will lock the outer surface of the wedge to the lug and. preve'n-tany possible slipping of the wed e. In Fig. 81 have shown a bushing simi ar- .to that shown inFig. 7 except that it extends but'half-way around the pin, its ends abutting against shoulders 17. The wedge 18 forces the "ends of the bushing tightly against these'shoulders and locks the bush ingin place substantially in the manner herepartlcular form isa saving of metal inthe bushing; which metal is quite expensive.

lt'willbe evident that various changes in the form and mechanical details of my inrproved'joint for dredge buckets and similar devices may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Without limiting myself to the precise con The advantage of this s'truction and arrangement of parts illustrated and described, I'claim,

1. In a. dredge or conveyer chain, thecombination with the links having lugs and with lugs, each bushing comprising two relatively movable reversely tapered parts adapted, whenassembled, to securely hold the bushing in the eye-of the lug. w 2. In a dredge or conveyer chain, the combination with links having lugs and with pivot pins extendingthrough said lugs, of bushings for certain of the lugs, each bushing comprising a wedge and a reversely tapered portion, for the purpose set forth.

3. In a dredge or conveyer chain, the com binationwith links having lugs and with bushings for certain of the lugs, each bushing and a lon itudinally arranged wedge for expanding the bushing in the eye of the lug.

4. In a dredgeor conveyer chain, the combination with links. having lugs and with pivot pins extending through said lugs, of

which receive the bushings having eyes which are eccentric to the pivot pins, said bushings comprisingcrescent-shaped portions adapted to fit the said eyes, and wedge portions adapted to expand the bushings in the eyes.

5. A bushing for a dredge or conveyer chain comprisin two reversely tapered sections adapted w en brought into register to expand, for the purpose set forth.

6. The combination with a link of a dredge or conveyer chain having a lug and a substantially elliptical eye therein, of a bushing having two crescent-shaped portions, and an intermediate wedge portion, said bushing being reversible, for the purpose set forth.

7. Inla dredge or conveyer chain, the combination with links having lugs, and pivot pins, of means for locking the pins in certain of said lugs. comprising blocks adapted to bear on the pins, wedges bearing on said blocks, and seats in said links for the wedges.

8. In a dredge or conveyer chain having links provided with lugs and having pivot pins, means for locking the pins in the links comprising blocks each having a concave face bearing on a pin, a transverse groove in its back, awedge of elongated cross section operating in said groove, and a seat in the link for said wedge. V

In testimony whereof I affix iniprese nce of two witnesses.

. ALEXANDER T. FRASER.

Witnesses:

JAMES A. WATSON, EDWIN S. CLARKSON.

the pivot pins, of bushings for certain of 'said' signature pivot pins extending through said lugs, of

comprising apart, of crescent-shaped section,

bushings for certain of the lugs, the lugs IOC IIO 

